de wheel. De rubber on de wheel dun got busted."
"I see. And what were the men in the auto, and the girls, doing?" went on Dick, quickly.
"Say, boss, I don't want no trouble, 'deed I don't! I didn't do nuffin! I jess looked at 'em. dat's all. An' dat one man he said he'd mak me suffer if I opened my mouf 'bout wot I saw," explained the aged colored man, in a trembling voice. I'se an honest, hard-workin' man, I is! I works fo' Massah Sheldon fo' sixteen years now, an' he'll dun tole yo'-all I'se honest, an"
"All right, I believe you are honest," answered Dick, in a kindlier tone. "But those men are rascals, and we want to catch them. They carried those two girls off against their will."
"Dat's wot I was suspicioned of, boss, fo' de young ladies was a-cryin' hard an' wanted to git out, an' de men wouldn't let 'em. I wanted to do sumfing fo' 'em, but the men tole me go mind my own business, or git my haid busted, so I drove on."
"How many men were there?"
"Three men, 'sides de man wot was a-mendin' de busted wheel."
"The doctor and Crabtree and Sobber!" murmured Tom.
"Or Koswell and Larkspur," added Sam.
